Malthouse goes into bat for Fraser

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has strongly defended the injured Josh Fraser, insisting the number one draft pick is still the club's top-ranked ruckman.

Fraser is playing in the VFL this weekend for the Magpies' reserve side and has not played senior football since round 12.

The number one overall selection in the 1999 draft, Fraser has been struggling with a knee injury he suffered in May's AFL tribute match.

Despite his troubles, Malthouse says Fraser is still the club's first choice in the ruck.

"When he's able to ruck he'll be the number one ruckman at this football club," he said.

"So we can get rid of all the rumours and innuendo, guesswork and second guessing that he is dropping in the pecking order."

There were suggestions Fraser could have played in the forward line against the Bombers this weekend, but Malthouse says he was not tempted to rush him back.

"We've elected not to play him until the medical people believe that he is capable of rucking again," he said.

"And when he is capable of rucking again, which is distinctly different from running around the ground at seconds level, so he hasn't gone down in our calculations, he's the number one ruckman at our football club."